[Dawn.]
By the time I pick myself up off the floor, do a happy dance, and then force myself not to text Sophie excitedly, I get dressed and I allow myself one cup of coffee before tidying up and putting on my shoes.
I grab the keys for the car and then, losing all orderly manners, I run for my car and drive excitedly for Aldo’s.
The traffic can’t even piss me off as I make my way across town. The humidity doesn’t even bother me, as it frizzes my hair and makes my car stink like a jar of pickles.
The sun burning off the puddles doesn’t blind me but dazzles me. I feel so high, so full of hope, that it seems nothing can pull me back down to earth. As I park in front of Aldo’s apartment building and see the kids all hurrying to the side of the street to let traffic pass, I imagine that someday it will be our kids.
Our kids…
Will there be more?
The thought fills me with warmth. I’m giddy. I practically skip all the way to his door. I practically throw the gate open that leads to the rear apartments and Aldo’s entrance…
I practically choke on the air I breathe as Andre wrenches the door open and storms past without acknowledging me.
Oh God, he knows…
I freeze, my heart sinking. Andre’s broad shoulders are tense as he marches away, his fists clenched at his sides. The energy radiating off him is hot and furious. I hesitate between the door and him, torn between calling out or going inside, but before I can act, I see Aldo pick himself up and sit down on the couch.
His face is bloodied and swollen. His knuckles are red and bleeding.
“Aldo, what happened?” I descend on him and cradle his body in my arms. The coffee table is smashed and broken. I clutch my belly too, protecting the baby growing inside of me.
But Aldo just wipes his bloody nose on his sleeve, and he looks up at me.
His face is grim and sad.
“He knows,” he says, confirming what I already know. “He knows about us and how we feel. Or at least, how I feel about you.”
I lay my hands on his, and we hold each other. “Did it really have to come to fighting?” I ask, my fingers trembling as I cup his cheeks slightly.
Aldo grunts a laugh, but it hurts his ribs. He holds them tenderly. “Probably not. But I asked him about the note. About the Russians.” He gestures at himself. “I let him win though.”
“You don’t have to say that,” I force a grin, tapping his shoulder. “He’s not here.”
“But I did. Really.” Aldo’s face is sincere. “I don’t care anymore. We can finally be together. We can finally be a couple.”
Aldo lays his head in my lap, and I stroke his hair. Suddenly telling him about the pregnancy feels really scary.
I glance around the room, taking in the chaos. The shattered coffee table, the overturned chairs, the streak of blood on Aldo’s sleeve-it all feels too real. I wanted this moment to be perfect, but now it feels like we’re standing at the edge of something huge and unpredictable.
I brush my fingers through Aldo’s hair, soothing him even as my own nerves fray. How can I tell him? He’s already dealing with so much. Andre knows about us. The Russians are a looming threat. And now…
I clutch my belly again, my thoughts spiraling.
“What’s wrong?” Aldo’s voice is soft, but there’s an edge of worry in it. He sits up, his bruised face inches from mine. “You’ve been quiet since you got here.”
“I’m just… processing,” I say, avoiding his eyes. “It’s a lot, you know?”
He nods, his jaw tightening. “Yeah, it is. But none of it changes how I feel about you. I’d fight Andre a hundred times if it meant we could be together. Hell, I’d take on the Russians too.”
His words are meant to reassure me, but they only make the weight on my chest heavier.
I don’t doubt his love. I don’t doubt his strength. But will that be enough for what’s coming?
I want to tell him. I almost do. But the words catch in my throat, held back by fear.
Instead, I lean forward and kiss him, pouring all my emotions into the act. He kisses me back, his hands cradling my face, but I can feel his concern lingering beneath the surface.
When we pull apart, he rests his forehead against mine. “Whatever happens, we’ll get through it together. You know that, right?”
I nod, even though I’m not sure.
Aldo lays his head back in my lap, and I stroke his hair, my hand trembling.
Suddenly, telling him about the pregnancy feels really scary.
Really fucking scary.
W-what am I going to do now?
*****
Aldo
*30 minutes earlier*
I’m playing NBA on the TV when Andre comes through the door. He gives me a nod and proceeds through to his room.
He’s been a bit quiet these last few days, but then again, I’ve been a bit quiet these last few weeks. We’ve been working together so much during the days we sometimes need this silence at night.
Dawn and I still hadn’t made the decision to tell him yet, so every opportunity that has come up these last two weeks has been bit off my tongue. I’ve almost admitted it a few times.
I had to make up a few quick stories of different women too a couple of times. But still, I think he doesn’t suspect anything.
Half of my head still can’t understand why these weeks have been hard. We’re just a couple at the moment, but then… Lindsey never felt like this. I guess I never truly loved her. This? This is different. Hiding it is painful.
Andre eventually rolls back out half an hour later, and he’s got his mail with him, clutched in his hand and opened.
He flops down on the couch. He takes out the letter and reads it. He’s not happy about it. He throws it next to him, and starts watching me play.
“Want a game?” I ask.
He takes up a controller from the table and we start playing, but even I can see he doesn’t want to with how lazy he’s being on the court. He’s letting me walk all over him and I can see he’s stewing anyway.
“You good?” He doesn’t say anything. “Luca, got you shoveling extra?”
He just grunts and nods for us to keep playing. I know when Andre is pissed, but most times he’ll talk about it.
Something must be really bugging him. My fears of the Russians have come back. Or even worse, he’s found out about us without us telling him.
I take us back to the main screen, pick to play an exhibition match, and we start selecting teams. He picks Cleveland, and I pick Miami.
“Figures,” Andre mumbles.
“Huh?”
“You picking Miami after I picked Cleveland,” Andre says. But he’s not joking, he means it.
“What the fuck does that mean?” I say, sitting up. I’m too tired for crap like this now.
“You tell me.”
“No, you fucking tell me,” I say. “What’s up?”
“Your boy LeBron is what’s up. Betrayed the Cavaliers when he went to the Heat.”
Now I don’t know what he’s on about. “What?”
“It’s like someone else I know.”
A flash of fear rolls through me. No, not fear. I don’t know what it is. It’s like being caught in a searchlight.
For the last few weeks, I haven’t been afraid of Andre. I don’t know if he ever suspected anything, but ever since that party, he seems to have been happier with me not heading out as much. But that hasn’t exactly been in my control.
We sit in silence for a bit, Andre heading us through to the game and starting to play. But I sit there with the controller in my hands. Not playing.
He knows.
“What the fuck are you on about?” I ask.
Andre sighs heavily. “You tell me,” he says, now turning.
“I think I’d like to know why you’re saying what you’re saying.”
“Oh, that makes two of us Aldo. But I guess we all got our secrets. Dancing around the truth.”
He definitely knows.
I pause the game. “Okay, what’s up?”
Andre licks his lips, calculating the next words he’s going to say. “I’ve been hearing rumors lately.”
“Well, you know what they say about rumors-”
“Yeah, but now there’s solid fucking proof.”
My heart skips a beat. What’s this?
“You know, man, I’m not angry that you guys got together. I’m angry that you were so fucking petty that you felt you had to hide it. I’m a fucking adult man. We ain’t kids.”
He pauses, giving me one last moment to admit the truth. But instead, all I can think of is what he just said. He had proof. “You’re fucking following us?” My body lights up with anger.
Andre throws the controller down now. “Dude. You’ve been seen at the movies, at the restaurant, at the beach, and at the fucking cafe. Look, you and Dawn can date and do whatever the fuck you want. But why hide it?”
His anger is confusing the shit out of me. Surely he’s angry at something else.
“I’m sorry we kept it from you man but what are you so on about? You’re angry that we didn’t tell you. But why have someone follow us?”
“Pfft,” Andre shoots air between his teeth. “Fuck no I didn’t..”
“Then where’s your proof from?”